⚓️ Where do we go next?

Did you know the term "son of a gun" originated on sailing ships? When babies were born at sea, they were often delivered near the ship’s guns due to limited space. If the father was unknown, the baby was listed as "son of a gun" in the ship’s log.

In today’s email:

• The philosophy behind answering, “where do we go next?”

• Free quiz: Find Your Liveaboard Sailor Archetype

• Kambo, the Amazonian Frog Medicine that’s in my first aid kit

• Musings on one of our most important elements: wind.

• Our sailor’s toast of the week

🌊 DEEP DIVE

The Philosophy of Choosing Your Next Destination

For sailors, the question of where to sail next goes far beyond navigation and logistical considerations. It’s the kind of question that can keep you staring at the stars, second-guessing your choices, or arguing over morning coffee with your sailing partner.

Choosing your next destination is just as much about the coordinates as it is about the crossroads where where freedom, curiosity, and purpose collide.

We sailors come from a long lineage of deep thinkers, dreamers, and adventurers. It’s no surprise  that answering “Where do we go next?” taps into some of the same musings that kept the great philosophers up at night.

We can draw on their wisdom to frame the act of choosing a destination as an invitation to live with intention.‍

Sailing as a Reflection of Existential Choice

Jean-Paul Sartre, the existentialist, reminded us that existence precedes essence. In other words, we define ourselves through our choices. Every sailing decision becomes an act of self-creation. That isolated cove or bustling port is reflection of who you are and what you value.

Simone de Beauvoir, Sartre’s partner in existential ideals, would say it’s not the destination itself that matters but the meaning you infuse into the journey. Are you seeking solitude, connection, adventure, or a blend of all three?

Let your why steer your where.

The Stoic Navigator: Accepting What We Cannot Control

The Stoics, the pragmatic sages of ancient Greece and Rome, offer timeless lessons for sailors.

Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus would remind us that the winds and currents are beyond our control. The best-laid plans might be blown off course, but it’s how we respond to these changes that defines us.

The Stoic sailor sees each storm, delay, or detour as an opportunity for growth. Epictetus might nudge us: “It’s not about the destination but how we navigate to it.” Whether forced into an unexpected harbor or blessed with smooth seas, every choice becomes a chance to practice resilience and grace.

Said another way, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." -- Mike Tyson‍

The Romantic Sailor: Seeking Sublime Horizons

The Romantics like Rousseau and Thoreau reveled in the awe and mystery of nature. To them, sailing would have been about losing themselves in the majesty of the waves, wind and the endless horizon.

Thoreau would urge you to seek simplicity, where the rhythm of the tides replaces the hum of the modern world. Rousseau might suggest chasing a destination where you can rediscover your primal self, a place untainted by busyness or pretense.

When considering where to go next, ask yourself: What place will leave me in awe?‍

Nietzsche’s Eternal Return: Would You Choose It Again?

Friedrich Nietzsche challenges us to live as though we would choose our actions over and over again for eternity. For sailors, this philosophy is an invitation to ask: If this were the last voyage I ever planned, would I still choose this destination?

Nietzsche would remind us to make bold, unapologetic choices that reflect our passions and aspirations. A hidden island, an uncharted cove, or a stretch of coastline where you’ll witness sunsets that feel like secrets. Pick the place that makes you feel most alive.

Plotting Your Course Through Philosophy

When deciding “Where do we go next?”, let these guiding questions inspired by great thinkers help you steer your way:

What defines you? (Sartre)

What kind of sailor are you, and how does this destination reflect your identity?

What can you control? (Epictetus)

What are the elements you can embrace, and how will you adapt to the uncontrollable?

What will inspire you? (Thoreau)

Which place will reconnect you to awe, beauty, or the rhythm of the natural world?

Would you choose it again? (Nietzsche)

Does this destination align with the life you want to live, not just now, but always?

The Beauty of the Question

Embrace the journey as a reflection of who you are and who you wish to become. As sailors, we are philosophers by nature, drawn to the liminal spaces where freedom, purpose, and beauty converge.

So, where do you go next? Let the winds of thought just as much as the winds of the sea guide you to your horizon.

📔 Things Worth Knowing

• 🔗 Kambo vs “Sea Lice” Amazonian Frog secretion is one unexpected substance in my first aid kit but Something I needed after an unexpected encounter with tiny angry jellyfish larvae.  Read more @ The Helm.

• 🔗 What is wind? Between filming in harsh remote locations and chasing experiences across continents, it's interesting that nothing has humbled me quite like wind. Read more @ The Helm. 

⛵️ Boat Tour of the Week

• Expedition Evans is a must-follow YouTube channel documenting their journey on a restored 50-foot Beneteau sailboat. Check out their boat tour here.

🍻 A Sailor’s Toast

Toasts are a seafaring tradition, passed down through salty winds and rolling tides. Here’s one for the week:

“Here’s to the dreamers with charts in hand, who let their hearts decide their next land. To the pull of adventure and the calm of the sea, to choosing our course with curiosity. May the winds guide us true, may the stars light our way, and may we always find wonder in where we choose to stay.”

Cheers,

Jessica Depatie